? Are you against conventional all together in the canal?
No, just makes fishing more work than it needs to be.( Babylonian )
High end spin with a good backboned rod is more multifunctional.
Poppers,swimmers,jigs,needles, sluggos, ron z's, eels, etc.
You've seen what I use, that stick throws great and will handle just about anything in there and let me fish pretty much any way I want.
And I used to be a conventional for almost everything kind of guy.
Still love it on the boat, bait fishing the surf and when I want a change of pace and reminisce.
The one big advantage I liked in the canal was the ability to feather and drop back a jig, eel or shad in the current for longer bottom time. Though you would have to reel in like an organ grinding capuchin monkey to avoid the hang ups.
Sight casting to distant breaking fish with conventional equipment in the canal is a true test of calmness under pressure..........and one's skill with obscenities.
And this is a guy who fishes with us from time to time that I call "Backlash Bob"
I had already spent 20 min digging this out for him before I said I need to take your picture.
I don't jig enough to know/understand conventional advantages but I keep considering it for drifting eels. That seems like it would be way better with conventional. Spinning seems fine for just about everything else. Learning to fish conventional does seem like a good way to cure boredom when there are not any fish around.
And this is a guy who fishes with us from time to time that I call "Backlash Bob"
I had already spent 20 min digging this out for him before I said I need to take your picture.
Be a hero and show him the backlash trick....i.e., cranking against your thumb......it is on youtube.....works pretty well.......wish I'd known about it 20 years ago.
I don't jig the canal much, but I do find it much easier to do well with conventional tackle. Dropping back big swimmers in current is another place it shines.
If you want to jig and want to use spinning gear and still drop back as you would with conventional gear just jig with your bail open. pinch your line between your finger and rod and have your other hand on the bail. When your jig gets picked up flip your bail and drop your rod tip followed by your hook set. Do the same with eels. takes a few fish to get use to but once you do you'll be able to do everything you can do with a conventional setup.
wear a piece of tape as you would for casting.
Nobody calls me Lebowski. You got the wrong guy. I'm the Dude, man.
Be a hero and show him the backlash trick....i.e., cranking against your thumb......it is on youtube.....works pretty well.......wish I'd known about it 20 years ago.
I don't jig the canal much, but I do find it much easier to do well with conventional tackle. Dropping back big swimmers in current is another place it shines.
Hmmm... I'll have to try this. I'm sure the next trip out with a conv I'll get a chance.
It doesn't take too long to learn to cast a conventional. It takes a lifetime to learn enough discipline not to try to overcast your own ability. You never overrun a reel just casting normal. It always happens when you want more distance than your current ability allows. (or you catch a bush or something interfers with the cast...that doesn't count)
The best proof of what I say above is to take a few hours to learn the reel. Then cast with your eyes closed or into pitch black darkness. You will almost never overrun the reel. Now , cast conservatively 5 times and note how far out it lands. Next try to cast 50 yards past that. Bang , I can almost guarantee an overrun.
Yes , it takes a lot to control the reel like a world champ but just sending out the lure or eel enough to be in the game , takes just a short time.
I find that if you get it in your head that down time is far worse an evil than long casting is a benefit , you will settle in quickly with a conventional. Start conservatively and let repeated casting get to be part of your body language. Soon you'll start getting your body into it more , your waist , your legs , your two arms seperately. The distance will come naturally with time.
Hmmm... I'll have to try this. I'm sure the next trip out with a conv I'll get a chance.
Found the video:
That trick might work with mono but on braid I don't think it'll be so receptive.Mono has a lot of fluff and there might be some dug in areas on the spool,but braid is allot thinner and seems to dig in deeper.
No, just makes fishing more work than it needs to be.( Babylonian )
High end spin with a good backboned rod is more multifunctional.
Poppers,swimmers,jigs,needles, sluggos, ron z's, eels, etc.
You've seen what I use, that stick throws great and will handle just about anything in there and let me fish pretty much any way I want.
And I used to be a conventional for almost everything kind of guy.
Still love it on the boat, bait fishing the surf and when I want a change of pace and reminisce.
The one big advantage I liked in the canal was the ability to feather and drop back a jig, eel or shad in the current for longer bottom time. Though you would have to reel in like an organ grinding capuchin monkey to avoid the hang ups.
Hybrid Mode
